Blank screen.

Look again, it must be there somewhere hiding under the radar.

Nope, OK, let’s try sonar.

Nary a ping.

With just seven weeks to go, where’s the Senate campaign?

Sssh, listen, do you hear anything?

Checked the secretary of state’s Web site just to be sure and, yep, there’s a Senate race this year.  

And it’s even for an open seat.

And there’s a competitive match in the Democratic primary and what would appear to be a more one-sided Republican contest.

Mike Johanns has been raising money and on the road, traveling throughout the state.  His underfinanced GOP opponent, Pat Flynn, is out and about, too.

On the Democratic side, Scott Kleeb and Tony Raimondo are busy raising money.  Raimondo has done a tour around the state, and Kleeb has been here and there.

Yet, it sure is quiet this close to a primary election.

Compressing the race no doubt makes it less expensive.  And there may be some argument for a final six-week (or whatever) attention-grabbing blitz.

But both Raimondo and Kleeb have some work to do in Omaha and Lincoln, you would think.  

Yep, that’s why they’re busy raising money now, I suppose, since the most efficient way to reach those voters is through 30-second TV ads.

Expensive air time lies ahead.

Kleeb certainly is well-known west of here after a textbook campaign for the 3rd District congressional seat in 2006.  

And Raimondo is a familiar figure in business circles as a result of his successful management of Behlen Manufacturing Co., and his activities in economic development.

But Kleeb lives in Hastings and Raimondo lives in Columbus.  And most of the Democrats who will determine who wins this primary election live in Omaha and Lincoln.

Check that radar screen again.  They must be packing up — or saddling up — and on their way.

Hagel’s thoughts

Foreign policy thoughts from Chuck Hagel in his new book:

* “Don’t create the self-fulfilling prophecy of a hostile China,” he writes.

* “Engage Russia as a strategic energy partner,” he says.  Hagel questions the wisdom or value of “provoking Russia with a missile defense system on its border” as the Bush administration suggests.

* “Not engaging Iran is a dangerously simplistic approach,” he writes.  Bush administration policy may be turning a potentially pro-American Iranian generation away from the United States, Hagel warns.

* The United States must focus on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, Hagel says.  Failure to do so leads to radicalization of Arab politics, increases terrorism and threatens moderate Mideast governments, he says.

* “America cannot simply impose its values and its will on other countries.”

* “Democracy, like faith, cannot be imposed.”

*  “If you alter the conditions that spawn terrorism, you will have to deal with it less often.”

Finishing up

* Raimondo said last week “it is time to develop an honorable exit plan (and begin) the process of bringing our men and women home” from Iraq.  

* Sounds like that was a great private basketball event in Omaha last week.   No public ticket sale, but I did see one of the private ticketholders was generously offering 10 seats early in the week on StubHub for $1,299 each.

* Uh, recognizing I majored in multiple choice rather than business, this might be a dumb question: But does the mortgage crisis make a case  for at least some regulation of business practices?

* And wouldn’t credit card companies be a good place to consider?

* Lonnie Michael, kind, engaging, helpful, fun.  As Bob Kerrey’s state coordinator in Nebraska during most of Kerrey’s first Senate term, Michael was a joy to encounter and a treasure for north Omaha neighborhoods.

* Get ready for baseball at an odd hour.  Red Sox and Oakland open the season in Tokyo on Tuesday, with ESPN telecast set to begin at 5 a.m.  Let’s check in on them somewhere in the middle innings.

* It’s a thrilling roller coaster ride aboard Car 401, Row K at the Wall Street Amusement Park.

* Banner month for Hate Radio.

* Big night for Doc.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com.